It’s time to say welcome back to the Aviva Premiership and to look ahead to Round 7. As expected some sides used the European competitions to find their feet while others found the going a little tough and have it all to do this weekend.
Obviously International rugby is moving towards the front of our minds and with this being a standalone Premiership weekend Eddie Jones will be praying to the rugby gods that no further serious injuries occur.
The round starts with a vital match for both Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints. The two Directors of Rugby have made five changes apiece with the notable moves being Billy Twelvetrees shifting to fly-half for Gloucester and Mikey Haywood starting for Northampton at hooker with Dylan Hartley taking a place the bench. Saints’ thumping last week made alarm bells ring and prior to Round 6 they haven't quite been able to put their finger on what hasn't clicked into place. Conversely Gloucester gained two bonus-point victories in the Challenge Cup, but it was against lesser opposition. Regardless they need to take that confidence into this match and up their performance level again. The history between the two sides sits in Northampton’s favour as they’re unbeaten in their last five Premiership encounters with Gloucester but there will be more pressure on the home side. Can they manage that adequately and put on a show at home/ We'll find out. Two to watch: Ben Morgan and Tom Wood both were included in Eddie Jones’ squad and both will be eager to put down a reminder to him as to why he has selected them. 
On Saturday Harlequins will be looking to continue their solid home form as they host Worcester Warriors. Both sides lost their Round 2 Challenge Cup matches by a single-point last weekend and that will fuel their fires for this Premiership round. Harlequins have lost Harry Sloan for the season due to a knee injury and Sam Twomey will also be out of action as he's about to have surgery on his foot. Both injuries will impact them now, and in the coming weeks when they lose multiple players to International duty. On a more positive now two big returnees, Danny Care and Tim Visser, will add spark to their output. Worcester Warriors also have a big boost as they welcome back Chris Pennell for his first Premiership action of the season. It's great to see him ready to take to the domestic stage as he always add so much to their game. The Warriors have won just three of their 10 previous visits to the Stoop and given that Quins are feeling confident at home they'll need to raise their game and fire from the off. Two to watch: The names just mentioned - Tim Visser and Chris Pennell - they'll be sharing a wing and the question is what can both do to ignite their sides?
Elsewhere in London Saracens will be hosting the Leicester Tigers with the latter looking to gain their first victory at Allianz Park. Last weekend we saw Saracens put 44 points on the board at a canter while Leicester finally reminded us how strong they can be as they made swift work of Racing 92. Clearly both sides will be missing players that they’d rather have on the field, notably Itoje and Toomua, and the latter's absence presents a greater challenge than the former's. Peter Betham and Jack Roberts will partner in the centres for the first time this season and it's a partnership that needs to fire immediately. Saracens' squad depth is showcased again as Ben Spencer comes into their starting XV as does Nick Tompkins' after his impressive outing against Scarlets. Saracens have lost just one of their last 18 fixtures in all tournaments and the Tigers have to turn up from minute one if they're to change history and finally gain a victory at Allianz Park. Two to watch: Dan Cole and Mako Vunipola going head-to-head at scrum time and trying to out fox each other!
Wasps are another side with an imperious home record - they have won their last 13 matches at Ricoh Arena since Saracens beat them there in Premiership Rugby on 27th December. That record is at the other end of the spectrum to Newcastle Falcons’ away tally as their victory at Kingsholm in Round 4 broke a 23 month barren spell on their travels in Premiership rugby. Jimmy Gopperth will don the 10 jersey for the first time this season as Danny Cipriani drops to the bench while Ashley Johnson reverts to hooker from the back row. Newcastle Falcons hand Callum Chick his debut for the club at Number 8 and he's one of four personnel changes after their eight try victory in Challenge Cup. Dean Richards has said that 'if we play to our capability it will be an interesting game' and boy will they need to because Wasps have shown how ruthless they can be if a side doesn't quite reach the boil. Two to watch: Keep an eye on the feet of Christian Wade and Sinoti Sinoti out wide, it could be a case of anything you can do, I can do too when it comes to stepping and beating defenders. 
Further south Ashton Gate will open its doors for another Premiership fixture as Steve Diamond’s Sale Sharks make the trip southwards. Bristol’s derby against Bath in Round 2 of the Challenge Cup wasn’t a classic fixture but from their point of view it showcased another step forwards in terms of their output. The big news is that Gavin Henson is returning to their starting XV and personally I hope that he flies at Ashton Gate. Sale may not have prevailed against Toulon but Steve Diamond’s fairly positive assessment was right. The Sharks were hardy and asked questions of Toulon. In terms of Sale's personnel they welcome Johnny Leota back after his two game suspension and Halani Aulika starts in the front row in place of Brian Mujati. There's no question that Steve Diamond's side will test Bristol’s defence heavily but interestingly Sale have not won away from home since their trip to Newcastle on the final day of the regular season last year. It will be a big afternoon for Bristol Rugby as they have been making strides forwards but the question remains, can they push on again? Two to watch: Obviously all eyes will be on Gavin Henson and personally I'd like to see how Will Addison presses on after a head-turning display against Toulon. 
The final match of the weekend should be an intriguing fixture between Exeter Chiefs and Bath Rugby. The Chiefs’ loss to Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium was difficult to swallow if you have Rob Baxter’s side in your heart but for the neutral it was an enthralling finish. Bath’s two Challenge Cup weeks delivered two victories and an opportunity to provide game time to a number of other members of their squad which will hold them in good stead. Exeter make just one change as a bicep injury forces Julian Salvi out and he's set for a long-ish spell on the sidelines. As a result Dave Dennins is promoted from the bench and he'll start in the back-row alongside Kai Horstmann and Thomas Waldrom. Bath have made eight changes to their line-up with five of them coming in the pack. Ross Batty and Henry Thomas return to the front row, Dave Attwood comes into the second-row and Tom Ellis and Charlie Ewels arrive into their the back-row. George Ford and Kahn Fotuali’i are back in the half-backs and their performances this season have been outstanding and something that the Chiefs will need to watch out for. Exeter are without a victory in their last four fixtures in all tournaments and the fact that they’ve won just one of their last four home games in unheard of. Two to watch: My eyes will be fixed on the two packs - which will gain the ascendancy at the set piece and which will own the gain-line? 